8/11/2015

I judge taquerias solely on lengua and al pastor tacos. Any other items - meh, don't care. I got  2 lengua tacos and 2 al pastor tacos for early dinner.  The lengua was quality lengua. It was very soft and moist. The al pastor, which included chunks of pineapple, was very flavorful. The char from the grill came through deliciously. There were a couple fatty pieces, but overall, the tacos were great.  

The only problem I had was the wait time. It took us about 17 minutes to get 7 tacos. For a taco place, that is absurd. They need to work on getting the food out quicker, but the tacos are one of the best in the city.

8/10/2015 Updated review

This place can grow on you. Who cares about getting robbed at this cash only place. The cops love it here too.

Every time I come here I order something different. They do not disappoint.

8/9/2015

The hubs and I came to check out L'Patron Tacos while in the area.  I'd heard that this was a favorite taco place with its numerous awards and accolades.  The menu was extensive, offering tortas, burritos, tacos, and their house special, the 'Gringo' and the 'Gringa.'  Since the 'Gringos' seemed to be of a quesadilla type, we stuck with the tacos: the Carne Asada (not the large chunks of steak that I saw from the pictures, but cubed steak; they were still juicy and had a great grilled taste to them; came with an overwhelming amount of raw onions), the Al Pastor (kind of reminded me of dwegi bulgogi; this had really great flavor, but again, too crazy amount of the sauteed onions), and the Lomo Encebollado (sliced ribeye and onions, but heavy on the sauteed onions; this had a slight mushroom-y taste to it).  While the taco meat themselves were pretty good, the off ratio of the onions to the meat was a bit ridiculous.  I am thinking to request the onions to be served on the side, so that you are in control of how much to put inside your taco.  Their red salsa was actually quite delicious, and one of the best salsas I've had - it was chunky and super flavorful, with a hint of smokiness, and great with the taco meats.  We also tried 3 of their drinks: the horchata (more on the sweeter side, but not grainy), the limeade (extremely tart, but didn't really have a lime taste to it), and their 'Sopresa' (a changing rotation of flavors, when we went, it was the watermelon - it was a tad too sweet, but it was still refreshing and watermelon-like).  I'd like to come back and try their burritos, as well as to try their tacos again with the onions on the side.  Service was super friendly, and the tacos are made-to-order; the place gets super packed during the lunch rush, so keep that in mind.  There is limited free 2-hour residential parking around the area.

+overwhelming amount of onions!  Request them to be served on the side!!!
+Al Pastor tacos
+Carne Asada tacos
+yummy red salsa
+Sopresa drink (changes flavors constantly); ask for a sample!
+limited free 2-hour residential parking

• 
• 

  Al Pastor taco

  Al Pastor taco
• 
• See all photos from Hannah H. for L' Patron Tacos

7/26/2015

WOW.  What they might be lacking in ambiance they more than make up in taste.  FLAVOR CITY!  So delicious.  Guacamole is the freshest you can get, the meat is perfectly seasoned, and the gringa is amazing, I couldn't stop eating.

Make sure you bring cash, and plenty of it, my friends.  Even their horchata was stand out good.

6/12/2015

Once again Yelp hooked me up with a winner! Since I officially became an L'Patron regular today, I owe this little gem a review.

I'm not sure I've had better tacos anywhere & they win hands down on value. At $2.39/delightful taco it's seriously the best bargain you can imagine. There are many more items on their menu that look really great, but I'm sticking with the tacos!

The Al Pastor marinated pork with grilled pineapple, onions & cilantro tacos pack an incredible punch of flavor & messiness that's worth licking your fingers so you don't miss anything. They wrap them in paper with twisty ends that helps to hold it together but it's a battle you're destined to lose to sticky fingers.

The Carne Asada Steak & Pollo Adobo Marinated Chicken are very close 2nd favorites to the pork. Which one wins would clearly be a matter of personal preference. The fish taco was a little too tartary for my taste but that's literally my only minor critique.

Their guacamole is made with dried cherries & who knew that would make it so delicious - but it does. They are generous with homemade chips and their red & green salsas are available at your table. Green is way spicier!

You order at the counter, cash only. They call you over a loudspeaker for dine in or takeout when your food is ready and it's efficiently done. There's always bumping Mexican music that adds to the dining atmosphere. It's fun & delicious here. You should go!

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  Pescado/Fish Filet

  Pescado/Fish Filet
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  Carne Asada/Steak - loaded with steak!

  Carne Asada/Steak - loaded with steak!
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  Al Pastor/Marinated Pork with Pineapple

  Al Pastor/Marinated Pork with Pineapple

8/8/2015

My fiancé & I decided to go out of our way to come here and I'm SO happy we did. Quick, inexpensive food that was delicious.

We tried 5 different tacos then ordered a burrito in our favorite. The fish taco and the shrimp taco are both fried (the fish/shrimp) and are topped with a creamy slaw. We both enjoyed each but we prefer pan seared/non fried seafood tacos. We also tried the chicken taco, 2 of the employees said it was their favorite- it was great! Then the beef tongue and the Ribeye + onion taco. I don't eat beef often- maybe 2-3x a year and I thought the Ribeye was pretty good. It was very flavorful. We ended up ordering the chicken burrito since that was the most pleasant overall and I'm happy we did! I'm sure the beef burrito would have also been great but neither of us eat beef often so I know it wouldn't settle in our stomach as well.

Overall, great food, fair prices, and light (if you don't order with cheese it get tons of the fried options). Definitely a place to visit if your in the area! :)

7/19/2015

Yum. Pollo adobado. Be aware though - cash only.

Nothing fancy but solid neighborhood Mex.

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  Worth the line

  Worth the line

7/9/2015

The tacos here are some of the best you'll find in Chicago (and possibly America...this coming from a born and raised Texan obsessed with Tex-Mex), but the service is SO. SLOW. Seriously. Call ahead unless you want to wait a good 20-30 minutes after you order, no matter what you get.

I always get the al pastor and have had the shrimp tacos too. The al pastor is out of this world delicious, and everything else I've had has been pretty good. They serve horchata and it's just right - not too sweet. The interior is nothing fancy, but a good place to sit and chow down.

I do love the food but the wait really makes me angry sometimes. Won't stop me from coming back, though. Gotta get my al pastor fixes.

8/6/2015

small little taco joint that my friend took me here and said it was good.. this place is CASH ONLY! the prices here is pretty cheap..
i ordered 2 steak tacos and 2 fish tacos...
the steak tacos i had was way tooooo salty.. my friends also agreed.. maybe we went on a off night.. other than that.. the steak seems to be pretty tender..
the fish tacos was eh.. they were ok.. definitely had better..
i do plan on giving this place another try.. hopefully they eases off that salt lol

4/19/2015

Pretty damn amazing tacos. Ours were loaded with the respected meats. The best of the night was the Gringo which had perfectly charred steak cuts and what I thought had an excellent flavor in conjunction with the melted cheese. It also comes with rice and beans which were both by far my favorite rice and beans I've had in any Mexican restaurant yet. The Al Pastor taco was my second favorite. I just loved the pineapples with the pork - maybe because it brings me back to my origins of tropical happiness. Ok, so yes, the tacos are incredibly oily...and everything is probably loaded with a ton of salt too, which in combination naturally makes it a heinous crime to eat....but sometimes, when you crave that delicious, beautiful carne asada taco...you're allowed to throw all that out the window.

L' Patron is the place to go.

Note: it is practically a zoo in there on weekend nights. Get ready to squeeze around people and wait for your food. No big deal, worth it.

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  Up close and personal

  Up close and personal
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  Gringo

  Gringo

4/21/2015

I love this place so much. I come here when I miss California (and have the energy/motivation to drive 30 minutes from Hyde Park). In order to compensate for the traveling, I often order (and successively eat) 2 meal's worth of food. Usually I feel pretty terrible once I leave because I ate wayy too much food, but oh man I love it. I ALWAYS ALWAYS get:

1. Gringa: their house special with al pastor meat. First, why al pastor? Well, it's thick chunks of pork marinated with a bit of spice AND GRILLED WITH PINEAPPLES. Next, what IS the house special? It's the al pastor meat sandwiched between two corn tortillas smothered in chihuahua melting cheese. Omg. Can I just have this delivered to my lab every day? It also comes with a side of refried beans and rice that make it amazing.

2. Carne Asada torta or burrito: depending on my food, I either get more or less carbs. Both are amazing, and the torta is a nice switch up.

I tend to come early to avoid the traffic and the cashier seems to recognize me since I order the same thing every time. Highly highly recommended.

Oh and you can find plenty of (free!) street parking off some of the streets.

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  Gringa (al pastor house special) and carne asada torta.

  Gringa (al pastor house special) and carne asada torta.

6/23/2015

Long line... Must be good... AND it was! Not AMAZING. But very very good. Came here because I read a article that said it's one of the best carne asada burritos in America. It was good, just didn't wow me like I was expecting. Now, the meat was Very flavorful, just a hair over cooked and  a little chewy. Next time no lettuce and tomatoes in my burrito. I don't like warm produce! I would come a get it a again just make a few tweaks!

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  Carne asada burrito.. Should of said no lettuce! Still pretty good!

  Carne asada burrito.. Should of said no lettuce! Still pretty good!
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  Very good guac! I just don't like tomatoes! :/

  Very good guac! I just don't like tomatoes! :/
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  The corn on the cob is better then the one in the cup because the cob is fresh. Best elote ever!!!!

  The corn on the cob is better then the one in the cup because the cob is fresh. Best elote ever!!!!

7/24/2015

Just came in tonight with the family, 4 of them kids. I'll start off by saying that everyone loved the elotes. The corn was very tender and easy to eat off the stick. They were very generous with the cheese. My husband got the Gringo and he liked it a lot. Our group agreed that the carne (steak) is the best meat choice. Also, we got guacamole and it was excellent. The dried cranberries gave a nice touch.

As for the bad, unfortunately  the tacos were just ok. Actually, I didn't enjoy the fish taco at all, I couldn't even finish it because I couldn't handle the taste. I think they can learn a few tips from Del Seoul. Their fish and shrimp tacos are amazing. The horchata was great, but the limeade wasn't so great. None of the kids liked it. The service and people are very nice.

6/10/2015

Just ate my takeout and it was delicious.

I got the Gringo and my husband had a steak burrito. We both enjoyed our choices.

Yes, it's cash only and there's a sign on top of their small fridge that has their sodas and salsas.

As far as parking, only cheap and lazy people complain. There's meter parking on Diversey. And there's also free street parking on California (south of Diversey). You will get towed if you park at Walgreens or ihop so don't be stupid and risk it.

Anyways, we will be back as we live roughly 2 miles away :)

8/12/2015

I've eaten everything on the menu and the only thing I don't like is the elotes- the local  street vendors seem to have that mastered!

6/6/2015

Best tacos in Chicago! Delicious flavor combinations, rivaling the popular "it" spot in Wicker Park for sure, though this one is a take out/self serve sort of joint. All of the tacos are generously stuffed with respective meats on delicious, fresh corn tortillas! I love the al pastor and chorizo; chicken and carne asada are also good (thought I've found the latter inconsistent from visit to visit). Another must try is the house special Gringa! Holy flavor explosion in your mouth!

Btw, they're cash only, so be prepared. They're busy a lot of the time during weekends and peak meals, so expect a line. You can call ahead orders, unless they're crazed in which case they don't answer the phone.

7/11/2015

I was wondering if I could write a one word review for L Patron to describe how great it is in so many different ways. The answer was sadly no. I am sure my wife would like me to have this talent though as she thinks I am a bit long winded.

Best customer service ever. I was driving home and my wife phoned in a order for me to pick up, we had never been so she relied on L Patron for advice on what to order. The girl who she spoke with was awesome we had a excellent selection of food and she managed to put cilantro on the side for everything in a little bag so if we wanted it we could sprinkle it on. When I arrived the same girl was there she was friendly talked about the restaurant made me feel at home. The eat in atmosphere is cute pick up at counter and eat in the small dining room which is BYOB, BYOB always puts me in my happy place. People were pouring in to eat in or pick up but L Patron managed it in a orderly fashion with no problem. I saw some eat in customers order their entire meal but when the appetizers/guacamole was ready they called their name and they started with that. They have a mic on a floor stand like a band might use behind the counter they use to call your name when your order is ready I keep waiting for someone to break it down, I don't know why exactly but the mic makes me smile. Maybe it's how they grab it and lean in to it like they gonna sing but then all they say is, Johnson your order is ready.

Food can be described in one word awesome, tasty, quality, homemade, flavor ok lots of one words and the list could go on. We had 2 tacos chorizo and prime rib the home made tortillas are out of this world the meat is quality big pieces full of flavor and a bargain for the price. We also had guacamole with home made chips so fresh and with some sweet and spicy to it. The chips come in a big bag to go you can see them behind the counter  in slightly greasy bags, so yummy crispy perfect salt. We also had the carne asada torta it was a winner great bread still crispy when I got home real meat flavor in the steak not salty just flavorful like steak should be. Last we had the al pastor burrito looked like a picture when we cut it in half had some kinda sweet in it I think was pineapple but not sure it had big chunks of pork and it was huge as was the torta. Great bang for your buck here lots of food and all quality. I drive by L Parton everyday on the way home from work looks like I could be eating a lot of Mexican food from now on. If only they opened for breakfast I would have 2 meals a day figured out.

5/30/2015

Seen this place on Chicagos best, on all those "best tacos" lists, so it was only a matter of time till I tried this place. Came around 9ish pm on a wednesday and there was no parking.  I took a risk and parked at walgreens, only to see a sign on the door on this place that said Walgreens and IHOP will tow your car. I got lucky, but I'm sure many people weren't in the past. I tried calling ahead of time for pickup trying to avoid this, but as I noticed once inside, If The Line is Long they will not pick up the phone  orders. The line inside went around this small establishment. Infact more people are in line then are able to eat inside. Took 30 mins to get my food.

The carne asada taco was really good, Gringa was special, loved the pastor cheese and pineapple combo. Overall pretty good, but Idk why there is so much hype for this place, might be a slight on the overrated side.

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  Gringa

  Gringa
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  Elotes

  Elotes
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  Carne asada taco

  Carne asada taco

2/28/2015

You're not dining here for the ambiance. You coming for the traditional, excellent quality Mexican food.

I ordered two carne asada and one chorizo taco ($2.00 each, not bad) which were both delicious! The meat was juicy and flavorful. The freshly homemade chips are great; perfectly crunchy and not too thin or thick. Paired with their homemade guacamole it's the perfect combination.

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  Mexican chorizo taco

  Mexican chorizo taco
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  Homemade chips & Guacamole

  Homemade chips & Guacamole
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  Dining area

  Dining area
• See all photos from Scott R. for L' Patron Tacos

4/10/2015

Everything here ranges from very good to excellent.  No duds, just gems and reliables.  L' Patron has the best fish tacos of any taqueria within city limits.  (Taco Nano in Northfield wins the suburban and overall Chicagoland categories.)  Here, they serve it with cabbage, pico de gallo, and poblano aioli, and it is damn good.

I've tried nearly every single taco, and, after the fish, the best are shrimp, lomo, carne asada, pollo, vegetarian, al pastor...so, pretty much the entire menu.  Most of the tacos are two and a half bucks apiece, so this is still cheap eats despite the high quality and fancier signage than most taquerias.  Chips and guacamole are also top-notch.  And their red and green salsas make glorious little squirts of color and flavor on your chips.  The tacos do not really need them, but go ahead and indulge if you like.

It used to be a very, very small place, but taking over the next storefront has quadrupled their seating capacity.  However, the kitchen remains the same size, so now the food delivery seems kind of slow.  On a Saturday at 1pm, we waited twenty minutes for our tacos, although I saw later customers getting theirs in about ten.

In any case, they are worth every minute of anticipation.

8/10/2015

I had great time here with my friends but the chairs are not comfortable enough.

7/7/2015

If you're looking for cheap tacos, this place is as good as it gets.  I've only been here once, so I'm not going to entirely write the establishment off, but my experience wasn't great.  I came here based off of a recommendation from a friend.

While the taco ingredients were well made, especially the ribeye taco, the taco themselves had way too much grease and oil.  I remember biting into my first taco and i swear a third of the bite was just oil.  I understand that tacos aren't necessarily the healthiest things in the world, but from an establishment so highly rated on yelp I expected more.  However, this place has probably the best value for your money next to food trucks in the city.

8/9/2015

Amazing tacos. The Gringa and Gringo are outstanding. Lunch, dinner or bedtime snack...always a great option. I could eat here 3x/week!

4/13/2015

Food taste is about 4 stars but
Service is okay. All staffs are nice but very very busy place

Small place, I recommend you call ahead and to take out.

No parking. No credit card CASH only place

I had to wait more than 35 mins after my order as they messed up my order as to go...it was worst time as my two babies waiting inside a car with a daddy....but food is good. I liked their fish taco the best

4/6/2015

This was a last minute decision to hit this very popular Logan Square taco joint. I recall my good buddy Ryan L checking into this joint on a constant basis and me being curious of how good it would be. I also checked my good friend Kyle H's review which was quite helpful.

I made it over here around 7pm and the place wasn't too packed as there were a few tables open. The front area gets pretty smokey as I'm sure they are cooking up some goodness in bulk back there. Luckily my clothes didn't end up smelling like the kitchen. All tacos were around $2 and some change so I knew I would have 3.

The Al Pastor is the star as Kyle mentions in his review as the pork is pretty well seasoned along with the delicious pineapple that tops it off.

The Carne Asada was decent as the meat chunks were definitely bigger that what I usually get as Ryan & Kyle mentions in their reviews.

The Lomo (ribeye & onion) was very juicy and oozing with flavor...almost as good as the al pastor.

My date had fish and shrimp tacos and she said they were very good. The tacos were ready for consumption maybe 15 mins after ordering. I topped the three delicious tacos off with a big cup of very good horchata.

Cash only joint here...there is a Walgreens that has a Chase ATM around the corner if you bank with them and don't want a fee.

4/22/2015

Food and service was great I would definitely recommend checking out. I would order to go the dine in area is small and parking outside sucks. You can't go wrong here.

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  Guac

  Guac
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  How I like my tacos

  How I like my tacos
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  Torta was good I would recommend the tacos over a torta though.

  Torta was good I would recommend the tacos over a torta though.
• See all photos from Steve W. for L' Patron Tacos

8/2/2015

Just had quite possibly one of the tastiest veggie burritos I've ever had.  I'm definitely coming back.  Definitely give this place a try!

10/28/2014

I am seriously obsessed with this place right now. Went a few weeks ago and just went back the other night (I never go to the same place twice in one month). Everything is incredible. Get the chips and guac. Portion of guac is huge and chips are cooked fresh. If you're lucky they'll still be dripping with grease when they get to your table. I've never had a bad taco here but my favoring by far is the ribeye with grilled onions. 2 of my favorite foods served as a taco. Come on!!

I've only been here later, 9 or so, so seating and the wait were reasonable. Prices are ridiculous. Most tacos are $2. This place is a hole in the wall dive, exactly what I want on a Friday night! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu.

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  Chips and guac. Best in town.

  Chips and guac. Best in town.

11/19/2014

I can see now where all the hype comes from. Last Friday, I was in the area checking out revolution brewery and my co workers and I needed some grub to bring. L patron was immediately suggested and delicious tacos were had. Each taco runs about 2 dollars and that is fantastic considering how popular and tasty the food is here.

I orders the gringa and enjoyed the sweet pineapple and chunks of pork. Second, I ate the carne asada taco and immediately noticed how huge the chunks of steak were. It's well seasoned and the meatiest taco 2 dollar taco I've eaten. I followed the asada with a lengua taco. The meat was tender but nothing too special to note.

I think if I lived in the area, I would come here weekly. The food and the prices are too good to pass up!

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  The gringa

  The gringa

8/3/2015

I'm sorry my Chicago friends, but I'm from Southern California and I consider myself the foremost authority and expert on all things tacos. And with that said, the lomo/ribeye taco at L'Patron is the best taco I've ever had in my life. Bar None. Full Stop. End of Discussion.  

I've been to the dingiest holes in the walls, I've eaten off of taco trucks in back alleys, I've done it all, and I've had some really, really good tacos, but L'Patron's ribeye takes the top prize.  

I was in Chicago this weekend and I ate there TWICE on back to back days, and thats despite all the wonderful food offerings the city has to offer.  But literally, thinking back on that now, I wish I just ate every meal at L'Patron.  I sort of want to cry because I'm sad I can't have them now. I've developed a full blown addiction off of two meals there.  I'm ready to throw it all away and ruin my career and friendships just so I can go back.

Best. Tacos. Ever.

GO HERE.

8/1/2015

This is my neighborhood taco place, so I'm probably biased just due to the number of times I eat here.  Bring cash.  They don't take credit cards.

My favorite is the rib eye and caramelized onion taco, which is a little juicy but incredibly tasty.  Tacos here just come with a sprinkling of cilantro, which I hate, but since everything is made to order, just ask them to skip the cilantro if you don't want it.  Chips are divine, but I'm not a fan of the guacamole - too spicy for my wimpy Irish taste buds.  I'm assured it's amazing by those with more tolerance for spicy.
The lines can be hideous, and waiting for a table is frustrating, but those are the problems that come with popularity. You can't make a reservation.  If you're coming with nine or ten people, don't get pissy when your order takes a while and you can't sit together (I've seen this happen a number of times).  This is not a sit-down-and-linger-over-food place. Order, eat, leave, because there's people waiting for your table. I order by phone, pick it up in 5 minutes, and take it home.  Don't park at Walgreens - they keep a pretty sharp eye on their lot.

7/30/2015

Food is inconsistent.  The Carne asada can be tender sometimes or completely leathery others.  The food takes forever but the counter service is very friendly and consistent.  It's close to my house so probably will end up going back out of convenience and just hope I catch them on a good day.

3/11/2015

This is probably the best tacos I had in Chicago. Everyone migrates to Big Star taco joint on Damen to get their taco fix but big mistake!

My friend took me here for lunch and I was blown away by how good these tacos were. From their delicious tacos, creamy orchata drink, to cheesy elote corn side to their chips & guacamole, it transported me down to Mexico. I love their location also. I highly recommend this place to anyone that want to try authentic tacos.

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  Creamy cheesy Elote side

  Creamy cheesy Elote side
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  Chips & Guam w/ cranberries added

  Chips & Guam w/ cranberries added
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  Their delicious tacos - hand crafted and individually made fresh

  Their delicious tacos - hand crafted and individually made fresh
• See all photos from Kenny K. for L' Patron Tacos

6/23/2015

LOVE L'Patron!!  Fabulous food at a really great price.  My husband & I both LOVE the poblano tacos.  I am also partial to the chorizo and the steak, while he loves the al pastor and the fish tacos.  I'm not sure you can go wrong here!  The tacos are so good, we haven't branched out to other items, but we're excited to try them.  

The chips and guac are a must.  The chips are hot & fresh - the guac equally as fresh and very tasty.  And the salsa?!?!  Both red and green are amazing and really deliver on the spice.  I'm not sure which I like more!  

The only negative I have is that you can rarely get through on their phone line.  We've successfully ordered carry out 3 times by phone, but have tried at least a dozen!  The last time we decided to walk in and order because we couldn't get through by phone and we waited 45 min in line for our food.  It's just that busy and good!  I would LOVE to see them fix their phone issue - they are so in demand, they might just need an additional phone line or two.  

Almost forgot - CASH ONLY!!!  Make sure you have some $$ on you!

8/1/2015

Don't  really see or taste the HYPE! pretty average if that , elpastor way to sweet , couldn't even taste the meat at all nothing but pineapple, the steak was way to crispy and burnt that's all I tasted was char , shrimp taco was good , elote was flavorless , had better on the street . Chicago is filled with awesome taco joints and this isn't one of them

8/8/2014 Updated review

UPDATE:

I think our new fav is the ribeye tacos. We were fortunate enough to go on a day where it was only 99 cents per taco. We ended up ordering way extra to take home and eat (which we totally did and it was WONDERFUL). The meat is super flavorful and tender and juicy. And then you get that extra flavor with the carmelized onions OoOOh baby baby, can't get enough!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I cannot wait to bite into my tacos. It's a thirty minute wait and I'm beyond famished but I will wait for you, oh beautiful carne asada and ribeye tacos. I will wait for yoooooou.

They've expanded their restaurant so now you actually have a place to sit!!!!

Best tacos in town. Seriously guys.

• 

  Carne asada

  Carne asada
• 
• 
• See all photos from Tina L. for L' Patron Tacos

8/3/2015

I loved this place when it first opened. And I still do. But, their taco prices went up since they first opened. I have one of their first menus and Tacos used to be 2 bucks and now are 2.39. Which isn't terrible but you think when a place becomes so popular you wouldn't need to raise prices? Anyways, the food is always delicious. I've learned if you go at a less busier time though you will get more meat on your tacos. If you go on a weekend or lunch rush tacos are a lot smaller. I recommend ordering over the phone unless you have a lot of time to spare made that mistake it took an hour to get my order but to be fair the line was super long!

8/9/2015

This place is insanely overrated. It took 35 minutes to get our food. Then my chicken burrito had completely charred pieces of fat all throughout it. Gross! Not worth the wait.

9/25/2014

I came in around 1:00 on a weekday and didn't have to wait long at all. The staff is sweet and the food is delish and somehow not heavy despite the amount of bread and grains. The carne asada taco was amazing - possibly the first taco where I've thought "wow, that was amazing meat"! This is the kind of place where juice, not grease, drips down your fingers - which makes it wonderful! The chorizo burrito was great, although I see why people tend to do steak in the burritos - the texture definitely needed something a little more solid. That said, the chorizo itself was smooth and flavorful. I almost forgot my salsa halfway through the mean because it was so good as is! And the tortilla on the burrito was amazing - crispy and warm and full of meat juices! I don't know why I read some complaint about it on here!

Also a perk for those who are spice-adverse: until you add salsa, these are totally flavorful but not spicy at all. And for those of us who love our spicy: spicy salsa awaits you!

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  Chorizo burrito... Oozing and delicious!

  Chorizo burrito... Oozing and delicious!

7/16/2015

Really great food here. The atmosphere was lively on a Friday night at 10. I would definitely order only tacos next time. The burrito was good, but it wasn't mixed around enough inside. So certain bites would be all lettuce, all carne asada, etc. The guacamole wasn't bad, but I would've expected it to be better at a place like this.

1/14/2015

BEST TACO IN THE CITY!
HANDS DOWN!
The steak taco is delicious.  
Literally day dream about it.
Also the poblano pepper and cheese is phenomenal.
Horchata, is great too.
Very safe a lot of police presence.

1/20/2015

I seriously wanted to like this place and rate it 5 stars like most of the people on here, but really have experienced better food at other taquerias. I went with a group of people and the line was long, but we managed to get a table and get through the line in not too long.

We ordered an assortment of tacos; carne asada, chicken, and chorizo. We also ordered guacamole/chips and a side of rice. The best part of the meal was the guacamole and chips! I was SO disappointed in my steak tacos...they were bland and left in huge pieces. I guess the venues I visit usually have it diced up. I love chorizo and know it is greasy...but, I felt like I was drinking oil when I tried a bite of this taco. The chicken wasn't bad.

L'Patron wasn't horrible...but 2 stars on here is "Meh. I've experienced better." And that is exactly the case. I probably won't go again...but, if you do I hope you enjoy it better than I did.

7/18/2015 Updated review

Redemption is sweet!  Favorite taqueria in Chicago.  Try the corn and still highly recommending the al pastor and carne asada!

5/10/2015

Seriously,
The best Mexican food I've ever had. The food is incredible. The bursts of flavours in the veggie
Tacos, the rice, and the guacamole.....insanely good. I would recommend this to anyone who really wants authentic Mexican food with more character. It's cash only, long wait but very worth it.

2/4/2015

They've got tacos.  Also a disco ball and disco music played to 7 or 8 on their big ass speakers.  

Was pretty busy in there.  Including a couple of cops scarfing down nachos with cheese while waiting for their infinity taco plate.  Cops are a good omen if you're looking for decent quality and large portions.    Because when they aren't solving crimes, cops are generally stuffing their faces.  By trial and error they eventually find the best places.  Postmen are useful if you need directions.  That's another old school trick.

L'Patron is fairly new.  They had a sign up saying what year they were established but I don't remember exactly.  A couple years old is probably fair.  Which explains alot about this place.  Like a new condo with all the latest ideas put into practice, L'Patron is a taco stand for the 2010s.   Bright, fun, fast, with a slight twist on ingredients.   No kale and quinoa mind you, but you can tell they've thought about what people want and how each dish should look when served.  And they do a decent job.

If I owned taco/burrito palace #684 or was taco/burrito king #2859, I'd take my crew down to L'Patron for a team building exercise and would be like "see, we should do it more like this".   Then I'd bust out my best Tony Manero moves and bask in the wild applause.

2/10/2015

L'Patron, I absolutely adore and love you. So so so much. Probably a little bit too much.

This place has the absolute best tacos in the entire city! Their steak and fish tacos are absolutely amazing. Their horchata is also fabulous.

The thing to do however is to call your order in before you arrive. That way, you don't have to wait in line! Also, your food will be ready when you arrive or you only have to wait a few minutes for it to be done! This place gets crowded in the evenings!

5/24/2015

My husband was craving for tacos and I could find very few Mexican restaurants in Wicker park with decent reviews. We compromised on La Pasaditas and as we were driving I googled best tacos in Chicago and that is when this restaurant hit my radar ( I found it from Chicago.eater.com). Between me and my husband we shared 6 tacos ( chorizo, shrimp and chicken) ...chicken and chorizo were freaking amazing, they had nice kick of spices and perfectly charred. The green and hot salsa on the side were also tasty.. They are the best tacos in town for sure. We are coming back for the burrito and the elotes and then again for the tacos. I would say they are comparable if not better than the ones you get at Pilsen.
And don't forget to get some dineros: Cash only!!! Worth it !!!

6/26/2014

I'm tempted to give L' Patron three stars for extenuating circumstances like the grease cloud of smoke billowing through the restaurant and the extremely long wait (there was no line, I was there before the lunch rush), but the food was fresh and good so I will be fair and give four.

Now, let's discuss said smoke cloud. Clearly they knew they had a problem because there was a big fan set up, but no one thought to crack open a door, so the fan just blew the cloud around. It was so bad my eyes were burning and watering the entire time I was there. I don't know if this is a usual problem or a one off thing, but come on, use some common sense.

I appreciate when a place prepares the food fresh and as the orders come in, but does it really take 15 mins for a shrimp taco and gringa special? And $5 for a basket of chips and salsa? hahahahahaha. NO.

On a good note, the gringa was yummy. I don't eat a lot of red meat, but the steak was so good and mixed well with the grilled pineapple. A little heat and sweet, my favorite combo. There was too much cheese (for me). Like so much I ended up slightly choking on it. It's also logistically difficult to eat because it's open on all sides so stuff falls out with every bite. The two salsas were good - one green, one red. And while I thought I was ordering a grilled shrimp taco, it came out fried. But it was a light coating and the crunch really made the taco. It was my favorite and I would definitely order it again.

All in all, I feel indifferent about L' Patron. If I lived in the area or worked in the area, then I'm sure I would frequent the joint, but for me, it's not a go-out-of-my-way-must-have place. But it's good, so give it a go.

• 

  Gringa special. $5.49

  Gringa special. $5.49

7/19/2015

Delicious!!! Made me a  vegetarian gringa! Homemade tortilla and salsa. The fam had pork and chicken tacos of which my daughter said best taco she's ever had!

7/12/2015

Solid guac and pico de gallo with fresh chips. The pico de gallo and guac had a sweetness to it, here and there, almost like raisins or dried cherries. Very good Al Pastor tacos and I loved the gringa which was al pastor meat and cheese between two nice and I assume home made tortillas. The al pastor was chunks of pineapple and pork. I will go back for the carne asada and it's hard to explain what's so great, the char, the texture, who cares? Loved it. Will have to try the gringo which is the gringa with carne asada instead of al pastor. I have heard this place is known for the carne asada and I can see why. Solid fish taco dressed with what reminded me of cole slaw. Solid, fresh taste. Didn't knock my socks off, but the flavor was mild by nature I think, so no criticism there. Plain decor and location. Great food.

6/7/2015

My one gripe is that they don't accept credit card. While waiting 15 min in line,  I was looking for a sign saying they only accept cash, and did not see one. I got all the way up to place my order and then found out. I had to go to an ATM and pay a surcharge.

Once I ordered,  the wait wasn't too long and the staff was helpful and kind. I ordered 2 burritos,  chips and guacamole and a side of rice. The food was good and the guacamole was great and fresh, just not sure I'd go through the hassle of going to get cash and waiting in line again. If I drive by and there's not a line, I may consider it again in the future.

12/27/2014

When I look up a restaurant on Yelp, I immediately look for the bad reviews to see what people dislike so I'll try to hit on all of those areas of contention:
-Wait time: Five minutes for chips and salsa, another five for the rest of our meal. This struck me as neither short, long or notable in any way.
-Burrito size: Normal
-Lettuce in burrito: Not enough to be noticeable and or irritable
-Did I smell like a Mexican restaurant when I left?: No
-Was the carne asada too salty?: No

I have zero complaints with L'Patron. I know Yelp is something of a repository for negativity so all this positive feedback is likely troubling for some of you, and for that I apologize. Although I'm sure if you go down one review, somebody likely had an overcooked piece of steak and is dying to tell you about it.

Also, I've been listening to "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift as I write this.

7/8/2015

Favorite taco spot in the city/state/country. Wonderful tacos for a decent price. The wait is usually a little longer than most taco places, but it is definitely worth it. I used to live in the neighborhood and was spoiled to be so close. Even after moving, I make the trek back.

7/21/2015

Been there twice in a month, and I almost never eat out.  Okay, I like quesadillas but I love their quesadillas- something about their tortills (is it homemade?) and the cheese- yeah, it says chihuahua cheese and I have had that before but this quesadilla is perfection. Chips are great, friend had a burrito which looked yummy.  
Yes, this is "as good as it gets"

7/15/2015

OBSOLUTELY loved this place...I had a gringa omg delish the rice that comes with it was perfect.... my kids had steak tacos & we ordered guacamole. ..they loved it....definitely coming back

5/26/2014

What's not to love?  Awesome food, bright funky colors, pretty extensive menu, dining room, awesome prices -- hole in the wall spot, very crowded "you know this food's gotta be fantastic since we are all standing around so crammed in here and waiting in this line" type, great, great food!  

Al pastor, shrimp and fish.  In that order.  

Bring cash!!

12/21/2014

Pretty good grub.   Nothing especially spectacular but solid mexican on the go.  The one thing I really liked was the option of a shrimp and fish taco, these aren't as common at taquerias.  The tilapia was a bit fishy but the shrimp was on point.  Carne asada tacos were a bit charred for my taste but the salsas were a nice compliment to the meat.  If I make it back I am curious to Try the house specialty "Gringo", they were making the dough on site to order and it made the place smell great
 The staff was really nice but make sure you have cash on you because they don't take credit.

7/3/2015

the delicious smell brought me into to this fabulous place!! I literally would drive down Diversey on my scooter and be li YUMMY!! every time until finally I went in and was not disappointed at all. The food is fantastic, everything that I've had is absolutely delicious!!! I particularly LOVE that they sell elotes with cheese and chile :) The prices are great as well and the service is excellent. I LOVE L' Patron and highly recommended to anyone who loves authentic Mexican food and is also open to explore new flavors! Be aware that they are cash only!! totally worth it for the price though!

12/15/2014

I heard about this place on some yahoo review.  Claimed it was a top 10 in Chicago.  Bold statement, so I had to check it for myself.  No research just went.
  Ordered some tacos had a seat and it took awhile.  I was like, this is a long wait for some tacos.  Then they came.  MADE TO ORDER.  It was so fresh you could taste the HUGE difference.  Carne Asada is the best I have ever HAD!  Fish tacos were equally fantastic.

Worth every second of waiting.  I will be heading back ASAP and hopefully in a few weeks, they will know me by my face when I walk in!  I LOVE a great taqueria!

3/20/2015

Al pastor burrito is on point.  Seriously, the meat is tender and flavored to perfection.  Also had the carne asada tacos which have pretty decent sizes of meat in there.  The dining room is small so get there early or just hope to luck out.  

I would've given this place 5 stars had it not been so obnoxiously loud from the blaring Mexican music in there that my girlfriend and I were getting a headache.  Why they feel they have to blast music and make it feel like a Mexican club stumps me.  We had to scarf our food down to get out of there for some peace and quiet of the 94 instead.

7/31/2015

um you should probably go here

4/10/2015

I'd give a high rating even before I tasted the food - what a fun and friendly place! If only service could be like this at every restaurant.  They dont even wait on you - but the guys and girls behind the counter are all super friendly, funny, efficient, energetic and love their jobs.  Only been here once and got it to go - the Gringa, Chorizo Taco, and Poblano Rajas Taco were all tasty.  I was a little disappointed with the Elotes in a cup - tasted kind of like frozen corn and was liquidly.  I'd have to eat in next time and try the Elotes on a cob instead.  Definitely will go back here.

7/13/2015

Love this place!!! Must try... Tacos are fantastic and the corn (elote) in a cup is a must!...

4/6/2015

A hidden gem in the middle of nowhere, L'Patron serves some seriously delicious Mexican food! When I eventually found this place, I ordered the guacamole with chips, which was amazing, followed by steak taco, chicken taco and pork taco. The flavours were fantastic and well worth the trek out here.

7/30/2015

Stopped here on a Wednesday night after attending a rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the area. And boy am I glad I did. I dined on some of the best steak tacos in the Chicago area.I will definitely be going back to try some more items on their menu.

11/9/2014

This place is incredible hah.

Whoa! So it's already packed at around 3pm. I ordered the al pastor taco ($2) and the lomo encebollado (on special for 99 cents). Ordered an horchata as well, and a side of rice and beans. Total $6.99.

So I wait a little while for my food, and man. The first bite of the lomo encebollado. Juicy steak and deliciously marinated onions. The al pastor had chunks of pork with pineapple. The rice and beans with the added cotija cheese? Say whattt? Delicious!

I would definitely come back here again! One of my favorite places so far for tacos (and I've had a lot throughout my life lol).